A Quest For Wellnesshttps://www.aquestforwellness.com
Seeking A Healthier YouMon, 24 Dec 2018 17:53:35 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=5.0.3https://www.aquestforwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/cropped-WellnessQuest_logo_-favicon-32x32.pngA Quest For Wellnesshttps://www.aquestforwellness.com
3232Turning Your Weakness Into A Strengthhttps://www.aquestforwellness.com/turning-your-weakness-into-a-strength/
https://www.aquestforwellness.com/turning-your-weakness-into-a-strength/#commentsTue, 18 Dec 2018 00:01:50 +0000https://www.aquestforwellness.com/?p=538Turning Your Weakness Into A Strength It can be a real downer when we have experienced something devastating and disappointing but it doesn’t have to define you and it doesn’t have to end at that. Today we will venture into turning a weakness into a strength. Some people find it difficult to talk about their […]

Turning Your Weakness Into A Strength

It can be a real downer when we have experienced something devastating and disappointing but it doesn’t have to define you and it doesn’t have to end at that.

Today we will venture into turning a weakness into a strength.

Some people find it difficult to talk about their weaknesses and their strengths because it is not commonly talked about unless you are at a nerve wrecking job interview that we probably did not prepare for and now have to botch what we deem to be a satisfying answer to the employer.

Counteracting Negative And Positive

How is it that we shy away from these conversations that can be very beneficial for the parties involved?.

It is because when we do talk about our strengths or weaknesses it is usually in a negative light.

We say “I’m very good at baking” and it may come off arrogant so in order to counteract the other we say something that takes the impact off by stating “but I’m a totally dummy with technology” or something to dampen you’re strength so it doesn’t come off as too much for the other person(s).

I am very guilty of doing this. It is how majority of the population communicate.

It is what we know to do or just be plain timid or arrogant and don’t care.

Up until recently, I learned how to maneuver throughout these kind of conversations with grace and dignity.

I had been putting myself down in order to boost other’s self esteem and ultimately tarnishing my own.

I realized that I felt terrible after such sessions and didn’t know what to do about it!

The answer is right within us – STOP! It’s that simple! Stop putting yourself down. Instead, uplift yourself and others.

What about uplifting each other simultaneously like we’re supposed to?.

If we can’t have an exchange of positive energy between two or more individuals, it is not worth having those friendships for much longer.

Fix the friendships or love them from a distance.

How My Weakness Became A Strength

Initially, I was stuck in a place of misery because of the weakness I had of putting myself down to build another person up.

It transformed into a strength when I mustered up the courage to stop once and for all.

Once I overcame, I saw how positive my mind became, just by having a better outlook on myself.

Now my strength from that weakness is teaching others how to do the same.

It isn’t easy and I still struggle from time to time about how I can exercise this practice without hurting others or relationships.

It’s like a dance of tango, you take the appropriate steps to maneuver without either of you getting hurt.

Whatever Our Weakness Are Now They Can Be Turned Into A Strength Later On.

No matter what your weaknesses are now, they can be used for strength! For example, If you are a drug addict, drugs would be considered your weakness, to relapse and fall behind in your journey.

Everybody is disappointed in you, your mother, kids, friends etc..even you’re disappointed in yourself because you were doing so well and boom! back to square one.

A mistake doesn’t have to define you! every time you fall be sure and willing to get back up.

Drug addiction is not something that is easy to break but trying and willing to rise above, get clean and live a normal life without drug use speaks VOLUMES!

In my humble opinion, being a voice for the drug addicts would be your strength once you are able to overcome it.

“You can do all things through Christ who gives your strength” – Philippians 4:13.

With God you can overcome anything that is set before you and God can also use you to be a testimony to others on their journeys from substance abuse.

So never for one second think that your weakness is just that, it can definitely be turned into your strength and the strength you can give to others.

Have you been able to turn your weakness into a strength? You are welcome to share it in the comments section below.

]]>https://www.aquestforwellness.com/turning-your-weakness-into-a-strength/feed/4Super Easy Classic Chili Recipehttps://www.aquestforwellness.com/super-easy-classic-chili-recipe/
https://www.aquestforwellness.com/super-easy-classic-chili-recipe/#respondSun, 28 Oct 2018 23:50:11 +0000https://www.aquestforwellness.com/?p=490 With the shorten days and the chilly nights, we’ve entered the fall season and what’s more warming than a hot bowl of delicious Chili to kick in the new Autumn air. If you’ve never had Chili before than you are seriously missing out. No really, you are. It is super easy to make, all […]

With the shorten days and the chilly nights, we’ve entered the fall season and what’s more warming than a hot bowl of delicious Chili to kick in the new Autumn air.

If you’ve never had Chili before than you are seriously missing out. No really, you are.

It is super easy to make, all in ONE pot with very little clean up after everything is done, maybe a cylinder and some utensils.

My introduction this awesome meal was here in Canada. I hadn’t had in it Barbados, it was completely new to me but I instantly feel like love with it.

I think it’s the first meal my husband ever made for me when we first met.

What is Chili?

Chili is a type of spicy stew made of meat, beans, tomatoes, chili peppers, tomato sauce and is easily one of the most satisfying meals that the entire family can enjoy, even the kids.

There are so many versions of Chili too; meaty, vegan, no beans, all beans, spicy, mild…you get the picture. You can definitely play around with it.

I thought it was a very interesting combination of beans, ground beef, beans, corn and spices. I quickly learned how to make it and STORE it.

Before you knew it, I’d whip up a big batch and freeze some of it for quick meals that we can just reheat on the stove top.

What You Wish You Knew Before You Ate Chili

This doesn’t happen to everyone but for some of us, we can report the flatulence associated with eating Chili.

If the family or friends stick around long enough, there is bound to be a bunch of that going on, so if you know what beans does this to you then it would be wise to limit the amount that you do have.

Remember earlier I said that Chili was one of the first meals my husband made in our dating phase?

Well, I found out pretty quickly what chili can make you do on your first date, haha.

Nutritional Facts

Not only is this dish yummy, it is almost packed with lots of important vitamins and minerals. According to Cronometer, 1 cup of homemade Chili contains lots of fiber, protein, Vitamins B1, B6, B12, A, C and minerals; copper, manganese and zinc and tons more. See below.

]]>https://www.aquestforwellness.com/super-easy-classic-chili-recipe/feed/0Simple Hummus Recipehttps://www.aquestforwellness.com/simple-hummus-recipe/
https://www.aquestforwellness.com/simple-hummus-recipe/#respondFri, 26 Oct 2018 23:39:36 +0000https://www.aquestforwellness.com/?p=472This post contains affiliate links. This means I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase through one of these links, at no additional cost to you. Thank you so much for your support. Easy Snack This is one of the fastest and easiest year-round snacks that you can make! It can be […]

]]>https://www.aquestforwellness.com/simple-hummus-recipe/feed/0Help Your Body, Help Youhttps://www.aquestforwellness.com/help-your-body-help-you/
https://www.aquestforwellness.com/help-your-body-help-you/#commentsFri, 26 Oct 2018 23:01:59 +0000https://www.aquestforwellness.com/?p=466What Is Wrong With My Body? We are going to talk about how to help your body to help you. When our bodies are not doing what we want it to do, we often get frustrated and give up. I have personally done this so much times that I should literally be a spokes person […]

What Is Wrong With My Body?

When our bodies are not doing what we want it to do, we often get frustrated and give up.

I have personally done this so much times that I should literally be a spokes person for this…Seriously.

Many times I’ve started out on a weight loss journey and everything would be going all well until all of a sudden I would plateau…UGH! so frustrating, soon after I would end up binge eating on unhealthy foods and gain all the weight back and more.

What I never pieced together was the fact that I needed to give my body what it needed to better help me. This is important in any situation.

In my case, it has been balancing my hormones and weight loss.

Finding out what your body needs increases its ability to effectively heal you from any ailment.

Helping Your Condition

For example, if we were diabetic say type 2, we would want to focus on herbs, supplements and a healing lifestyle for diabetes.

It would be detrimental to continue the previous lifestyle and conditions that encouraged the disease to progress.

If we continued eating and living as we and/or our families did before, it would eventually get worse as time go on, resulting in grief, frustration, even death.

While the causes of diabetes vary depending on diet, family history, environmental factors and ethnicity, the main issue at hand is high blood sugar levels that can affect anyone whether or not you had a family history of the disease — as long as your eat a diet of overly processed foods and sugar, you may be at risk.

Simple Steps To Follow For Diabetics

If you’re overweight, work with your naturalist to develop a weight-loss plan.

Incorporate herbs and supplements that are healing to diabetes.

That was just an example but helping our bodies help us is how we can truly be healed and experience optimum wellness.

I am not there yet, there is still lots of hormonal work on my end to be done.

Ruling Out Medical Conditions

My endocrinologist will be able to rule out what have been causing me my troubles with my menses or lack there of and I will be sure to update as we get a clearer picture on this.

Sometimes when we are totally in tuned with our bodies, we can be right on the ball about what is happening on the inside but other times are not as easily pin pointed and should be assessed by a medical professional to confirm any health concerns.

It is only when we give our bodies what it needs, that it can do what it was designed to do and better help us achieve our health goals.

]]>https://www.aquestforwellness.com/help-your-body-help-you/feed/6FLU: How To Get Rid Of Or Prevent ithttps://www.aquestforwellness.com/how-to-get-rid-of-or-prevent-flu/
https://www.aquestforwellness.com/how-to-get-rid-of-or-prevent-flu/#commentsWed, 17 Oct 2018 21:17:31 +0000https://www.aquestforwellness.com/?p=365This post contains affiliate links. This means I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase through one of these links, at no additional cost to you. Thank you so much for your support. How To Get Rid Of The Flu Here’s how the flu usually work, picture this, you’re celebrating the most […]

This post contains affiliate links. This means I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase through one of these links, at no additional cost to you. Thank you so much for your support.

How To Get Rid Of The Flu

Here’s how the flu usually work, picture this, you’re celebrating the most festive time of the year. All kinds of togetherness with the whole family and friends then suddenly, BOOM!.

You end up with this nasty sore throat or the snuffles and it all begins, your festivity comes to a crashing halt because after all, it’s cold or flu season.

Estimated Flu Statistics

Every year the flu affects an astounding amount of people. According to the CDC, every year since 2010, influenza has resulted in a whopping 9.2 million to 35.6 million illnesses, 140,000 to 710,000 hospitalizations and 12,000 to 56,000 deaths in the U.S alone.

On a global scale, 3-5 million people suffer severely and 291,000 to 646,000 people die from seasonal influenza-related respiratory complications each year.

What Is The Flu?

Influenza (the flu) is an infectious respiratory disease caused by an influenza virus. It is highly contagious and ranges from mild to severe, sometimes resulting in death. There are 3 types of flus that affect us, Type A, B and C. There is a forth type (D) that is said to primarily affect cattle.

The flu can spread by touching surfaces like; counter tops and door knobs, interacting with someone contaminated by the virus by way of sneezing, coughing, blowing nose, kissing and hugging.

Symptoms Of The Flu

Signs that you may have the flu are as follows;

Fever/chills

Headache

Nauseousness

Diarrhea

Sore throat

Coughing

Running/stuffy nose

Fatigue

Extreme Symptoms That Should Prompt You To Seek Medical Attentions

Confusion

Chest pain

Dizziness

Shortness of breathe

High fever

Extreme vomiting

Note: The flu is definitely not an illness to play with because of how it can go from mild to severe so quickly.

How To Ease The Symptoms Of The Flu

Drink your fluids – It is super important to remain hydrated during this time, make sure to drink plenty of water, juices, soups and herbal teas. It helps to break up the phlegm and keeps you from feeling worst as the flu passes.

Rest – Be sure to get plenty of rest too. Your body is trying to fight for you and should be allowed to channel all of it’s energy on the current attack on your immune system.

Stay away from others – You are highly contagious so be mindful of others and try to stay away from school or work mates but if you are unable to miss time off, try to keep your distance and practice flu etiquette by washing your hands, wiping surfaces and sneezing into your elbow or a Kleenex or handkerchief.

Take Showers – Take a warm shower daily and inhale the hot steam to help with congestion. We tend to shy away from the shower when we are sick but it can sometimes uplift your spirit and make you feel so much better. Plus it keeps you hydrated since the flu seems to naturally dehydrate you. (Not recommended with a high fever, instead use cool water).

Elderberry Syrup – My favorite! It is made a berries known to combat the influenza virus!. It is super nutritious and highly effective on boosting the immune system. The flu has nothing on elderberries. The berries are anti-inflammatory, anti-influenza AND anti-viral which makes it just as effective on colds, allergies and other respiratory illnesses.

My Thoughts On Remedies

By now you have realized that I love natural healing and herbal remedies! I am not totally against western medicine…it is just a last resort for our household. We do not believe in vaccination so that is not the route that we go.

This is not medical advice to you so do what is right for your family and always consult with your doctor before using anything….anyway…

If you can pair the two together then you’re in the sweet spot. What I mean by pairing the two together is; using modern day technology with natural healing herbs.

For example, I have been to the doctor about an issue I was having with my lower abdomen.

After going to my doctor and finding at what was happening and possibly what the cause was, I paired the healing abilities of herbs to solve the problem.

So pairing the two together can be very beneficial.

What Are Elderberries

Elderberry also known Sambucus, is a wild scrub. It is native to Europe and North America and can be found in low lying areas, like; along side roads, swamps etc.

The plant is a large bush about 6 feet tall with long arching branches that bares white clusters of flowers that can sometimes be mistaken for the Queen Anne’s Lace but the bodies of the plants are totally different in identification. The berries are dark in color and red or maroon colored flesh.

Elderberry Blossums

Nutritional Value Of The Berry

These berries are loaded with antioxidants and essential vitamins and minerals; See info below from Cronometer.

Real Testimonies

As I mentioned before, they are our go-to and I have recommended and offered my friends and family the berries to help with their own bouts of the flu.

All of them had excellent reviews about the effectiveness of the berries and I have documented a couple of them below.

My friend, I will call her C. Her family of 5 was having a rough time with the flu that completely wiped out the entire household. As a friend who check in from time to time, I asked her how the family was doing.

That is when she told me about what the family was going through and I immediately told her about elderberry syrup and what it is used for. She agreed to give it a try and shortly after, her family felt so much better.

Here is C’s testimony:

As for me and my husband Levi, we haven’t had the cold or flu in a while but we did feel a “tickle” once or twice and we immediately took some of the syrup that we saved in the freezer to quickly nip it in the bud.

The tickle went away instantly for both of us. (two separate occasions).

Additionally, my mother in law was feeling under the weather when she suddenly realized that she had the flu. Levi came back from his visit and told me and I immediately whipped up a batch of elderberry syrup and sent it to her. Instantly she was better.

Here is mom’s testimony:

Elderberry Syrup Recipe

If you would like to try the syrup as a natural treatment to combat the flu. Here is the recipe.

]]>https://www.aquestforwellness.com/how-to-get-rid-of-or-prevent-flu/feed/378 Herbal Teas For Weight Losshttps://www.aquestforwellness.com/8-herbal-teas-for-weight-loss/
https://www.aquestforwellness.com/8-herbal-teas-for-weight-loss/#respondTue, 02 Oct 2018 03:57:54 +0000https://www.aquestforwellness.com/?p=280According to WHO (World Health Organization), worldwide overweight and obesity rates have almost tripled since 1975. Majority being adults over the age of 18 and a whopping 41 million children under the age of 5 were recorded obese in 2016. Incredible amounts of research is being conducted to understand why these numbers are continuing to […]

According to WHO (World Health Organization), worldwide overweight and obesity rates have almost tripled since 1975. Majority being adults over the age of 18 and a whopping 41 million children under the age of 5 were recorded obese in 2016.

Incredible amounts of research is being conducted to understand why these numbers are continuing to increase year after year but its not hard to see why it is on the incline.

If we took a look at our diet today, it is very different now than it was before. We are eating huge amounts of fast food, processed foods, sugary drinks etc, the list can go on and on.

I’ve had my share of junk food too, boy! In high school, I would have a chocolate bar and a 500 ml of pop for lunch, thinking it wasn’t much food — and it wasn’t but it was the type of “food” it was that was detrimental to my health.

It’s not always “how much you eat” but “what you eat”. Even though it was a tiny amount, they were not healthy choices.

We live in a world with tons of food options but yet we are starving nutritionally, not only by eating junk food.

Did you know that there has been a deterioration of essential nutrients in our plant food over the past 25 to 40 years?

This is due to the nutritional depletion in our soil. Yes, this is a thing!

Crops grown decades ago were much richer in nutrients than the harvest today because the farmers would return nutrients back into the soil to replenish its fertility but if we take the crops and not “give back” to the soil then the health of the soil deteriorates and becomes less and less nutritionally dense.

What does this mean?

Even though there have been a decline in our overall food and nutrition, we can still make far better choices to live a healthier living entirely on the food that makes us sick and unhealthy.

One of the many ways of reclaiming your health is by consuming herbal teas. They can be very healing in just about any kind of ailment and especially in obesity.

For centuries, teas have been known to help with health and weight loss goals and may be beneficial to you in this part of your weight loss journey.

These teas are both healing AND delicious!

My absolute favorite one is the Roasted Dandelion Root. Some people say it tastes like a coffee substitute but with a nutty kind of flavor … I love it!

Here is the list of teas that can help with weight loss:

Peppermint Tea : Leaves, Oil

Peppermint has been around forever and its medicinal properties are very beneficial for anyone wanting to shed a few pounds. The smell of this herb has the ability to naturally suppress your appetite, causing you to eat less.

It also aids in digestion and reduces bloating which makes it a good candidate to have a cup before a meal. Another great benefit of this tea is the simple fact that it cleanses and strengthens your entire body, unlocking much needed energy for any physical activities.

It helps you to burn more calories and is excellent for relaxation.

How to make: Leaves – 1 ounce of herb to 2 cups of boiling water, sweeten with honey, if desired.Oil – 15 Drops of oil to a cup of water.

Sage Tea – Leaves

Sage is a common herb usually used as a spice for soups, roasts and pasta dishes but this “cure-all” herb actually has a few weight loss benefits as well. If you’re a diabetic or pre-diabetic it may help to lower your blood sugar levels, boosts your metabolism and aids in better sleep which is very important for weight loss.

How to make:Put 1 teaspoon of sage to a cup of hot water, cover and steep for 15 minutes.Strain and sweeten with honey, if desired.

Drink this tea 2 or 3 times a day, one hour before meals.

Green Tea – Leaves

One of the most popular weight loss teas, has the ability to naturally boost metabolism, improves insulin levels, sheds excess water, uses fat as fuel in the body.

How to make:

Place 1 tea bag in a cup of hot water.Cover and let steep for 2 minutes.Stir and enjoy.

Drink this tea 2 or 3 times a day.

Oolong Tea – Leaves

Usually served in Asian restaurants and tea houses. This fine tea has the ability to increase fat metabolism, lowers cholesterol, aid in digestion and can help stabilize blood sugar levels.

How to make:Place 1 tea bag in a cup of hot water.Cover and let steep for 5 minutes.Stir and sweeten, if desired.

Drink this tea 2 or 3 times a day.

Hibiscus Tea – Flowers, Leaves

A natural energy booster for physical activities, an excellent fat burner, boosts metabolism, reduces excessive water content in the body and improves one’s immune system to keep us healthy. Clinical studies show that this tea may reduce high blood pressure levels.

How to make:Place 1 tbsp dried hibiscus flowers in a cupPour in the boiling water.Cover and steep for 5 minutes.Strain and sweeten, if desired.

How to make:Place 1 tsp of dried berries or leaves to a teapot.Pour 1 cup of boiling water into the pot.Steep for 5-10 minutes.Strain and sweeten with honey, if desired.

Dandelion Tea – Roots, Leaves

This overlooked herb is packed with vitamin A. It is a natural diuretic for healthy water balance, aids in digestion, alkalizes the blood from acid causing foods and may be beneficial to diabetics with high sugar levels. It is also a tonic for kidney, gall bladder and liver health. My favorite.

How to make:Place 1 tea bag in a cup of hot water.Cover and steep for between 5 and 15 minutes (depending on strength).Stir and enjoy.

Peony White Tea – Leaves

This tea has the ability to metabolize fat, reduces stress, promotes weight loss, aids digestion and is a high antioxidant.

How to make:Place 1 tbsp dried leaves in a cup.Pour in the boiling water.Cover and let steep for 3-5 minutes.Strain and sweeten, if desired.

What are your favorite teas? And have you been using any for weight loss? Let me know in the comments.

]]>https://www.aquestforwellness.com/8-herbal-teas-for-weight-loss/feed/0Dealing With Body Shaminghttps://www.aquestforwellness.com/dealing-with-body-shaming/
https://www.aquestforwellness.com/dealing-with-body-shaming/#commentsTue, 02 Oct 2018 03:25:09 +0000https://www.aquestforwellness.com/?p=274Most of us have experienced body shaming; it is the act of which an individual is made embarrassed or self conscious about their physical appearance. This is a major issue for us as females but often times it happens to males as well. There is this certain desired image that we all try to uphold, […]

Most of us have experienced body shaming; it is the act of which an individual is made embarrassed or self conscious about their physical appearance. This is a major issue for us as females but often times it happens to males as well.

There is this certain desired image that we all try to uphold, which is to be skinny and beautiful or athletic and handsome. Somehow, if we don’t meet those standards, we are judged negatively and seen as unattractive.

Statistics

Our kids are at the mercy of this type of bullying daily. According to statistics, 94% of teenage girls and 64% of teenage boys have been made to feel ashamed about their bodies. This puts them in a state of self-hate and depression.

The negative and humiliating comments are not always at the hand of strangers but of our own friends and families.

It wasn’t uncommon to hear my relatives make criticizing comments towards my appearance. Matter of fact, it was uncommon NOT to hear them.

Tender Age Experience

Initially, those comments did not affect me negatively but with time they started to get under my skin. At the tender age of 7, I had this family member who would would call me “fat pig” with a smile on their face.

It wasn’t until I got older that I realized that what I was being called was something truly disgusting and detrimental to a little girl’s self image.

To date, they can still be caught calling me those words and I can choose to ignore them or call them out once and for all.

Note: If you say ANYTHING to a child with a smile on your face, they will see it as something positive whether it is or not.

As a teen I had what I would call “fat paranoia”. I was completely self-conscious about my body image. I would constantly be on a diet, avoided P.E (gym class) and netball just to escape having to wear the tiny shorts and the mini netball skirts — I thought they were cute, just not on me.

I not only “felt fat” but was constantly told that I was as well, which ultimately placed me in a state of self-hate.

Body Shaming Testimony:

This body shaming would also follow me into my adulthood. This one in particular just about knocked me off my feet. I clearly remember, at my first real job, I’d picked out what I thought was a very nice outfit.

A beautiful buttery yellow top that hugged my mid-section and flowed atop a caramel colored cropped pants with a pair of chocolate brown heels.

After returning from lunch when a coworker made a comment, not about my outfit but about the way my thighs rubbed together as I walked.

I was so shocked and embarrassed, plus it was said in front of others and before I could disappear everyone’s eyes were already staring into the crotch of my pants. I was so furious that I know I probably gave her one of my snappy “come-backs”.

Hurt people, hurt, people: (when hurting becomes a vicious cycle)

You see, as I endured the humiliation, I also developed what I call “thick skin” — a guard wall. I became a person who would hurt people before they could hurt me.

I “joined in” with the “hurters” to blend in from being hurt myself. I learned how to hurt people by body shaming them, intimidation and other forms of harassment before they could do it to me. I became exactly what I was terrified of, a bully.

How do you go from being the victim to the offender?

It all boils down to how the individual child responds to the bullying and their childhood development.

Not all children become bullies or “bully-victims” and not all children recover from bullying. They can sometimes go on to live a very troubled adult life or one that is completed unaffected.

According to a study conducted from 1970 to 2012, both victims and those who bully are both victims.

The bully would have been more likely to be exposed to negative parenting behavior, family experiences, abuse and neglect which can have adverse effects on a child’s outlook on life and shape their ability to cope in any form or fashion among their peers.

They tended to portray distinctive characteristics like;

Anxiousness

Depression

Passion

Sensitivity

Lonesomeness

I can truly go on and on about the psychological aspects of bullies and bully-victims because I have been there but..

Today this post is specifically about body shaming and I may have to write a separate post on other forms of bullying. For now, I will share how we can be more positive towards both our own and our children’s bodies and self images.

Steps To Improving Our Outlook On Our Self Images

1. Self-Confidence – We are all fearfully and wonderfully made despite what anyone thinks. It only matters what we think of ourselves. Once we see ourselves as beautiful and awesome, the body-shaming won’t be able to stand up to the confidence within.

2. Self-Bullying – While this is usually done by others or vice versa, we have been caught guilty bullying our own selves — the nasty comments we make as we stand in a full length mirror.

Try replacing the criticism with encouraging words and see the vast difference of our outlook on our self-images.

3. Avoid Comparing – No one person is the same with another. It is proven in identical twins, even though they may look the same to us, there are always a big difference between them.

Whether it be their personalities, their voices or even something as small as a beauty mole; the point I am trying to make is that we should never compare ourselves with others because everyone has their own individual beauty.

Comparing would only put us in a state of resentment towards our peers, ourselves and we would never be happy.

4. Our Children’s bodies – We should never criticize their bodies or appearances. If we suspect that our children are not making the best food choices and are gaining weight etc, there are ways to implement a healthier lifestyle on the entire household.

Chances are the pantry could probably use what I call a “purge”. If the outfits that our children choose to wear are inappropriate then we can suggest another without criticizing them.

5. Negative Gab – We should never talk negatively about our bodies to no one or to ourselves but especially not in front of our children.

Matter-of-fact, we should not be talking negatively about no one’s appearance, period. Not theirs, not ours, not nobody’s. Any negative thoughts that pop up in your head, nip them in the bud with a quickness.

6. Self-Respect – Learning and teaching our kids about self-respect and how it plays a role in their lives now and throughout life.

We must believe that we are good and worthy of every good thing that the world has to offer and carry ourselves with dignity and grace. Being examples for our kids will set them up to have a great outlook on their self image.

These are just a few ways that I have been rising above the imprisonment of shaming of any kind, especially body shaming.

What have you been doing to improve your outlook on this topic? Let me know in the comments.

]]>https://www.aquestforwellness.com/dealing-with-body-shaming/feed/8How To Roast A Turkeyhttps://www.aquestforwellness.com/how-to-roast-a-turkey/
https://www.aquestforwellness.com/how-to-roast-a-turkey/#commentsMon, 01 Oct 2018 03:18:04 +0000https://www.aquestforwellness.com/?p=229How To Roast A Turkey Okay! so its Thanksgiving or Christmas time! and you’ve decided to take on the task of roasting a turkey! Well I have prepared a step by step guide to help make things a lot easier as you go about roasting away. This recipe is bursting with lots of flavor and […]

Okay! so its Thanksgiving or Christmas time! and you’ve decided to take on the task of roasting a turkey!

Well I have prepared a step by step guide to help make things a lot easier as you go about roasting away.

This recipe is bursting with lots of flavor and will leave your guests wanting seconds and even thirds! haha, anyway.

The first few times I roasted a turkey, it was all by trial and ERROR!. I had no clue what I was doing.

I was just a young little pup at the time but practice makes what?…

The Perfect Turkey Recipe!

Here are the simple ingredients:

Begin by coarsely chopping your carrots like this. Don’t worry about the looks of the chopped carrots, they will be at the bottom of the roasting pan and no one will see them!

Next up, the celery! Chop them all up just like you did for the carrots!

Like this…

Good luck with this part! My eyes are still burning from chopping this onion up. A trick I learned is to walk away and try breathing in fresh air..that seems to help just a tad.

All in all, this is how they should look!

Scallions? Green onions? …Fold in half and slice into little rings like this.

With all the veggies chopped up and ready to go. Set aside.

Note: Make sure there is not a spouse nibbling away at the carrots!

Grab your roasting pan and put the veggies in with 1 tsp of salt and pepper (each).

Pour the broth into the roasting pan with the chopped veggies and set aside.

This is my favorite part. Open up the turkey’s package and place on a platter or tray to start the fun part!

Melt the butter in a small sauce pan and add all your spices to it and mix well.

Note: To lessen down on the dishes, you can mix the spices right into the sauce pan with the melted better.

Let the culinary arts begin!..Even the kids may want to take part in “painting” a turkey.

Continue painting until the entire bird is covered. Remember the armpits, inside the cavity and underneath (lift the bird). When you are all done, place it in your roasting pan (breast side up). Tie twine around the legs to keep the form of the turkey as shown below…my turkey already came with a device to hold it together.

Note: Work fast as the butter tend to solidify if left laying around too long.

Throughout cooking, baste your turkey to keep the bird moist. Normally, I would use a baster but for some odd reason it was no where to be found…so I used a ladle, carefully tilt the roasting pan and use the juices to baste the turkey.

When the turkey is done! Be sure to let it rest for 10-15 minutes before carving.

Remember to check the thermometer to see that the reading says 180 degrees F.

Note: Insert in the thigh, near but not hitting the bone.

Yes, we tasted it and it was super yummy and very tender..thanks to the covered and basting portion of roasting this turkey.

How did your turkey turn out? Let me know in the comments below!

Turkey recipe

Homemade Simple Step by Step Guide On How To Roast A Turkey

1 10-11 lb Turkey

1 medium Onion

1 medium Carrot

1 stalk Celery

3 Green onions

1 Box (900ml) Broth (I used beef)

1 stick Butter

2 tbsp Garlic powder

1 tbsp Tarragon (optional)

1 tbsp Paprika

1 tbsp Parsley

2 tbsp Salt (to taste)

1 tbsp Pepper (to taste)

Preheat over to 325 F (165 degrees c)

Coarsely chop carrots, celery, onion and scallions.

Put the chopped vegetables into a roasting pan. Add 1 tsp and pepper to taste.

Pour broth into roasting pan with the vegetables. Set aside

Melt butter in a small sauce pan over medium heat until no longer milky but more oily in appearance and golden around the edges.

Add garlic powder, paprika, tarragon, parsley and the remaining salt and pepper to the melted butter. Mix well and set aside.

Place turkey on a platter or tray. Brush butter-mixture onto the entire turkey, including inside cavity of the turkey. Be sure to lift the turkey to include the underneath as well.

Cook turkey covered for 1 hr then remove cover and cook for 2 hrs or until the thermometer reads 180 degrees F (82 degrees c) when inserted into the thigh.

Remember to baste the turkey 2-3 times until done cooking with the juices in the bottom on the roasting pan.

]]>https://www.aquestforwellness.com/how-to-roast-a-turkey/feed/10Love Yourself Enough To Live A Healthier Lifestylehttps://www.aquestforwellness.com/love-yourself-enough-to-live-a-healthier-lifestyle/
https://www.aquestforwellness.com/love-yourself-enough-to-live-a-healthier-lifestyle/#respondMon, 24 Sep 2018 01:55:39 +0000https://www.aquestforwellness.com/?p=152Love Yourself Enough To Live A Healthier Lifestyle It took me a long time to come to this point of my life. I had become somewhat reckless in my actions towards health when I wasn’t seeing any results. I really let myself go since gaining 50 extra pounds. My zeal for life dwindled to a […]

Love Yourself Enough To Live A Healthier Lifestyle

It took me a long time to come to this point of my life. I had become somewhat reckless in my actions towards health when I wasn’t seeing any results. I really let myself go since gaining 50 extra pounds. My zeal for life dwindled to a crisp and I felt so unattractive.

My weight had become such a problem that I could no longer purchase clothes off-the-rack in a regular retail store.

I Disliked Shopping

One time ago, I went to a Jeans store and asked the floor attendant where I would find their plus sizes and she said that they didn’t carry my size but there’s a Morrices (plus size store) a couple of doors down.

I was mortified but left and made my way to the other store. I was relieved to find that there were tons of options for me to choose from and I quickly grabbed a couple pairs of jeans and a top to match…

I’m in the dressing room trying on the first jeans and the top; you wouldn’t believe that the outfit that had looked so good to me in my head was just awful in the mirror.

The top was so unflattering, it exposed all my problem areas and the jeans were just not what I had pictured…I bought the first jeans and left, disappointed.

I got to a place where I just bought what could fit me, I had lost my sense of style and shopping wasn’t fun anymore. I no longer recognized myself and I’d lost all hope but over time I learned how to love myself enough to live a healthier lifestyle.

Baby Steps To Self-Love

It didn’t happen overnight. Matter of fact, it took me sometime to realize that I needed to love myself the way I was in order to make the necessary changes to become a healthier me.

I started out by taking baby steps and setting reminders in place to keep me focused on my overall goal of self-love and there have been a dramatic change.

List Of Self-Love Reminders

Here is a list of reminders that you can focus on to get you started on your own journey of love towards yourself.

1. Start each day off by telling yourself something positive – You’ve been in a funk for a while and you’ve been putting yourself down.

It’s time to say good things about yourself and that creates a mind-body connection to heal your prospective towards yourself.

2. Write out powerful affirmations and speak them into your life — Again being positive is key, whatever thoughts or words you put out into universe it comes back to you.

I have been speaking them more so than writing.

3. Purchase/pick yourself a bunch of flowers – This gesture is a reminder of how precious and delicate you are as an individual.

It brightens your outlook on life and you feel loved and appreciated.

4. Go for a walk and enjoy your own company – Rediscover yourself, this time is crucial in one’s life.

It helps to clear your mind, reset your priorities and become more connected with yourself. It is not a selfish act, it is how you take care of you.

5. Let yourself day-dream – Imagine your life as you’d like it to turn out. Let your future unfold in your mind with absolute surety of achieving this goal.

6. Accept change as a natural part of life – It is sometimes hard to imagine a life other than your current one but as you day dream and gravitate more towards your goal.

You have to allow yourself to receive prosperity because you deserve it.

7. Start a blog/journal – This captures your life as a testimony to see where you first began and your progress so far.

This also allows you to share your story and connect with others just like you. This is where I am now (Blog).

8. Forgive yourself – It is time to forgive yourself for any mistakes you have made in the past. This sets you free from being a prisoner of yourself.

]]>https://www.aquestforwellness.com/love-yourself-enough-to-live-a-healthier-lifestyle/feed/0How To Take Your Health Backhttps://www.aquestforwellness.com/how-to-take-your-health-back/
https://www.aquestforwellness.com/how-to-take-your-health-back/#commentsSun, 23 Sep 2018 07:28:50 +0000https://www.aquestforwellness.com/?p=137How To Take Your Health Back They say, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. There could not have been a truer statement. Often times we set goals and aspirations but we never follow through with them. It’s like we completely forget what we wanted to accomplish. Sometimes these can be […]

How To Take Your Health Back

They say, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. There could not have been a truer statement.

Often times we set goals and aspirations but we never follow through with them. It’s like we completely forget what we wanted to accomplish.

Sometimes these can be simple goals like; household chores, grocery shopping, reading a book etc but yet we find ways to procrastinate.

This is much like when we delay on taking care of our health. It is the single most important thing we can do for ourselves to avoid the detrimental ailments that seems to have taken over our nation.

A Procrastination Story;

As I know, through frustration, I’d diet and binge back and forth resulting in me being heavier than I was before. I made up every excuse in the books to eat and drink whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted.

I figured I was an adult and could make my own decisions. I could simple live my life, my way — this is true but how far was it going to get me?…

When I finally came to terms that I needed to exercise love-self, I also came to the realization that I had to exercise self-preservation too! but how was I going to do that? I ignored all the signs my body was sending me just to justify my actions to eat and “live” freely.

Self-Preservation Plan

In my self-preservation plan, I managed to come up with a few ideas that have been the stepping stones of taking my health back under control.

Rule out any health problems:- Often times our bodies shows us signs that there is a problem on the inside and sometimes, it does not. Ruling out any health problems with your health care provider can get you on your way to finding a solution.

Drink lots of water:- Yessss, we are all guilty of the avoiding this life-giving substance that makes up to 60% of our bodies. It is very important that we make sure to drink plenty of water a day to maintain our hydration levels.

Adequate amounts of sleep:- “Sleep is super important”, says the night owl! yes, I seem to be naturally, extremely, nocturnal. No matter how hard I’ve tried, my body wants to naturally sleep during the day and be wide awake at night but this does not disrupt my sleep needs. Most healthy adults require between 7-9 hours of sleep per night to function at their best so aim to get at least 7 hours for optimum health.

Fasting and praying:- This is vital to your success. As you fast, you become pure and of sound mind to connect to your creator. This is the body’s natural “reset” button.

Herbs, essential oils & Supplements:- There are lots of herbs, oils and supplements to help you on your journey of reclaiming your health. Work with a naturalist to figure out which herbs are the best for your specific needs.

Detox your body & environment:- Cleaning house of toxic chemicals from your body and household. There are so much toxic substances in our household like; shampoos, bath soaps, detergents and lotions. A great way to get these harmful products away from our households are to replace them one by one…it’s less expensive this way.

Raise healthy children:- Our children are the most precious jewels in our lives and their health should be our main priority. Healthy foods, products and environment. Our kids should experience a rich childhood that is pure, wholesome and happy. Too many kids are sick and unhealthy these days. If we show them a healthy lifestyle early on, they are lightly to maintain it into adulthood.

Mediation:- Calming down and relaxing from this fast paced life. Some days it really feels like there are not enough hours in a day to get daily tasks completely. “Slowing your role” for at least 30 mins daily can really help to de-stress.

Love yourself & Others:- We live in a world that stresses on loving others but we should love everyone including OURSELVES. How often do we neglect ourselves to take care of the needs of others? – it is noble to be selfless but the saying goes “love your neighbor as you love YOURSELF…we’ve forget ourselves along the way. Exercising self-love is vital to taking back control over our health. Once we have learned to love ourselves then we can truly love others.

How have you been taking control over your health? Let me know in the comments.